Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
- Interfaces, field
and boundary
control
- Positioning
assembly
- Integration...
- System
engineering
- Device
architecture
- Integration...
- Nanosystem
biology
- Emerging
systems
- Hierarchical
integration...
- Fragmentation
- Patterning
- Restructuring
of bulk
- Lithography...
Assembling
- Directed
self-
assembling
- Templating,
- New
molecules
- Multiscale
self-
assembling
- In situ
processing...
- Engineering
molecules as
devices
- Quantum control
- Synthetic
biology...
Passive
nanostructures
Active
nanostructures
Systems of
nanosystems
Molecular
nanosystems
−
−
−
Nanoproducts
FIGURE 1.8
Summary of nanotechnology
[11]
.
tooth decay. It is envisaged that in the longer term, biomimetic approaches and nanotechnology
will be used to repair and rebuild damaged enamel. Composite materials are becoming popular due
to their esthetic appearance and superior wear properties designed to replicate the properties of
enamel. The properties of these materials such as compressive strength, material flow, tensile
strength, and flexural strength have been improved using nanotechnology. Microfill composites are
made using the top-down approach to nanotechnology where materials such as ceramics, quartz,
and glasses start off as bulk materials and then they are ground into particle sizes below 100 nm.
However, nanocomposites are made using a bottom-up approach where atoms and molecules
combine to produce nanoparticles much smaller than those produced by the first approach.
Nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems have been widely used in targeted treatment of
various forms of cancer. For example, liposomes can be used for drug delivery in oral cancer and
asthma applications. The basic structures of liposomes are shown in
Figure 1.9
.
